Kenya's quest for democracy : taming leviathan /

This is a well-written account of Kenya's attempts to formulate a stable, effective government in the postcolonial era. While Mutua (law, SUNY at Buffalo Law School) cannot escape finding lingering colonial fault for Kenya's current dilemmas, his focus is upon the interlocking conflicts between corrupt Kenyan governments and attempts at reform. Reform must come, he emphasizes, through coordinated efforts of diversified, though effective, civil society and opposition forces. He focuses upon constitutional reform as the mechanism for solving the multifaceted failures of the dominant political class led by the Kenyan African National Union party elite. The book chronicles in detail the arduous and ultimately failed, nearly decade long process of rewriting a democratic constitution within a maze of political intrigue. Ethnic-tribal conflict is downplayed, though ultimately seen as one cause of contemporary political fragmentation. The author provides copious citations, perhaps because he seeks authentication being a peripheral player in the Kenyan constitutional process. The book is current through the 2007 elections. Excellent as a guide to contemporary Kenyan politics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. R. M. Fulton Northwest Missouri State University

Kenya's elections in December 2007 produced official results that provoked violent and fatal demonstrations. That election's flaws, in turn, resulted from Kenya's long history of a strong executive branch of government and a weak judiciary, according to Kenya-born Mutua (human rights & international law, SUNY at Buffalo). During a 2002-03 sabbatical there, he headed the Kenya Human Rights Commission, worked toward the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission for tribal conflicts, and closely observed the National Constitution Commission, which was working on a new constitution for the country. The author presents a detailed history of Kenya's constitutional reform efforts since independence in 1963, with analysis of why reforms have failed to establish a real democracy. In his view, a real and lasting democracy will require an independent judiciary and a strong civil society sector. His final chapter presents his recommendations for next steps to reach the ultimate goal. Specialists in African affairs and constitutional democracy will find this an insightful and thorough treatment. Most appropriate for specialized collections.--Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.